Mujahid Yusof Rawa said if it were up to him, he would not allow gambling outlets, including in Genting Highlands which houses the country’s biggest casino. But the minister in the Prime Minister’s Department said it was only his personal opinion, adding that gambling was frowned upon by all religions,. “Ideally, there should be no (gambling in) Genting Highlands. It is problematic,” Mujahid, who is in charge of the Islamic affairs portfolio, told Dewan Rakyat today, adding that the gambling industry would be around as long as there was a demand.
Earlier, Edmund Santhara (PH-Segamat) asked if the government’s policy on gambling was only to allow large companies, while rejecting applications by smaller companies. Meanwhile, Mujahid said the law does not stop Muslims from being shareholders in gambling companies. “But from a moral point of view, a Muslim should not be a shareholder of a gambling company,” he added.
Mujahid also agreed to a proposal by Nik Muhammad Zawawi Salleh (PAS-Pasir Puteh) for a committee to be set up, comprising representatives from different religions, to discuss issues related to gambling. The former PAS MP also praised authorities in Kelantan in restricting gambling in the state.
